Chris Sutton makes unusual Nottingham Forest FA Cup prediction involving Chris Wood

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Nottingham Forest host Ipswich Town in the FA Cup on Monday, with a place in the quarter-finals of the competition up for grabs.

Forest have already beaten Ipswich this season in a match that saw Forest fans declare Murillo man of the match, as Nuno Espirito Santo claimed a narrow 1-0 victory.

Returning to the City Ground, Kieran McKenna’s side have not won a Premier League game in 2025, with their only victory of the year coming in the FA Cup against Coventry.

Ryan Yates impressed against Ipswich in November, and after Nicolas Dominguez struggled against Arsenal, the homegrown midfielder may have a chance to replicate his display against Ipswich and help the Reds reach only their second FA Cup quarter-final since 1995.

Regular score-guesser Chris Sutton correctly predicted Forest’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal so he will be hoping to continue this form into the FA Cup weekend, making thoughts on Monday’s clash with Ipswich rather surprising.

Chris Sutton predicts extra time between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town

Forest needed penalties to get past Exeter City in the fourth round with Nuno Espirito Santo unable to watch the penalties against Exeter due to nerves.

Perhaps this previous round is playing into Sutton’s thinking as in his regular BBC Sport predictions column, he is expecting a 120-minute epic.

Sutton said: “Maybe Ipswich can surprise me and go on an FA Cup run, but you have to fancy Nottingham Forest here.

“Forest may make changes, too, because they are still in a good position for a Champions League spot, but I am backing Chris Wood to come off the bench and get us a winner.”

Eventually landing on a 2-1 Forest win after extra time as his prediction, Sutton remains confident that even a Forest side with rotation should be strong enough to beat Ipswich, even with Wood required from the bench.

Wood is unlikely to start, though, making it the perfect opportunity for the Forest squad to show they can find the net without the Kiwi hitman.

Taiwo Awoniyi can capitalise on another FA Cup opportunity

Taiwo Awoniyi is clearly below Wood in the pecking order at Forest, but he can still provide a threat in particular games when given the chance.

The Nigerian scored in the last round, but Awoniyi was stretchered off against Exeter. Luckily, he was seen walking freely after the event, though.

Espirito Santo revealed that Awoniyi suffered a facial injury, so the striker wasn’t involved against Fulham due to concussion regulations but did return in the 4-3 defeat against Newcastle.

Awoniyi took his goal well against Exeter and whilst Sutton expects it to be Wood who comes to the rescue for Forest, the 27-year-old can still make his mark in what could be a rare start to show his worth to the side.